Method and apparatus for anchor embedment



Jan. 21, 1964 T. STANWICK 3,113,417

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANCHOR EMBEDMENT Filed July so, 1952 5 SheetsSheet 1 BELOW 1000 FEET INVENT OR ATTORNEYS Jan. .21, 1964 'r. STANWICK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANCHOR EMBEDMENT Filed July so, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 B 4 0 J y M A---/ V A A? L V w I V M w I.II..I I|ILIIII|. IIIFIII |||||ll 4 4 v 6 100 /"o 500 Fee? INVENTOR 7/40 5 TANW/CK ATTORNEY Jan; .21, 1964 T. STANWICK 3,118,417

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANCHOR EMBEDMENT Filed July 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 7A0 STANW/CK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,118,417 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANCHOR EMBEDMENT Tad Stanwicir, 4715 Upton NW., Washington, D.C. Fiied July 30, 1962, Ser. No. 213,267 7 Claims. (1. 114-206) The present application relates to an anchor embedding apparatus wherein hydraulic forces are employed to embed the anchor in the ocean bottom.

A contemporary problem in the nautical sciences is the mooring of large size vessels to buoys that have positive holding power. To secure positive holding power, a method of anchor embedment must be employed to penetrate hard ocean bottom where normal hooking type anchors fail. A hard bottom prevents positive embedment'unless the anchor is accurately positioned and is driven at right angles to the bottom contour. An overly soft bottom, while permitting embedding, does not afford a sufficient retention of the embedded anchor. A number of previous inventors, therefore, have developed anchor mechanisms involving an explosive which propels the anchor head into the ocean bottom. Explosive anchors have not been entirely satisfactory since the explosives are exceptionally diflicult and dangerous to handle aboard ship, as well as in the anchor casting operation, the actual force developed by the explosive has been dimcult to control or predict and the exploding mechanism, more often than not, has not been recoverable.

According to the present invention the pressure of the surrounding water is harnessed as the anchor-embedding force. A frame carrying the anchor and anchor line is suspended above the ocean bottom. An open top column having an exhaust port with a rotating valve positioned between the open top and the exhaust port is supported in the frame. In deep water depths a free volume sphere may be attached to the exhaust port. The valve is alternately opened and closed so as to impart an hydraulic amplification effect or downward hammering of the column upon the anchor itself. This impact sets up a resonance in the column and driving head which is comparable to that resonance developed when a lance or spear is struck into a target. This resonance both in the case of the lance and the present column, respectively, instills a further embedment of the spear and anchor head into the surface in which it is struck. As a result, immensely powerful and readily available hydraulic forces are simply and reliably utilized to embed the anchor. Thus, hydraulic impact which is an eifect considered as the bane of industrial hydraulics and home plumbing is converted into a useful force.

Accordingly, it is an object of invention to provide an economic method for effective embedment of a marine anchor.

Another object of invent-ion is to provide a simple, reliable and lightweight apparatus for utilizing hydraulic forces in the embedding of an anchor.

Additional objects of invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section of a proposed embedding apparatus utilizable at depths in the range 1,000 to 20,000 feet.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic of the apparatus with the anchor fiukes distended, embedded in the ocean bottom.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a shallow water modification of the device wherein the hydraulic forces are developed by a pump means aboard the anchoring vessel.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the hydraulic amplifier hammer mechanism containing the control valve.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation thereof.

FIG. 6 is a top plan of the embedding apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a modified apparatus utilizable at to 500 foot depths.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, as the frame is withdrawn from the embedded anchor to the surface.

In FIG. 1 a ship placing an embedded anchor mooring is shown as employing a stern boom from which placement cable 46 depends. Attached to the bottom of the placement cable 46 at depths in the range 1,000 to 20,000 feet is a frame comprising base 107 with depending legs 30 supported by struts 44- and two upstanding members 29 converging beneath cable hook 24. An open top column 22 is supported within upstanding frame channels or tracks 54 by means of shoes or runners 58. Column 20 may be of any length and may comprise any number of drill stem like sections threaded together. Anchor 2-6 is suspended from driving head extension 68 which is fitted within driving head 40 attached to the hydraulic amplification or hammer section 52 beneath column exhaust ports 34.

In the deep water modification free volume spheres 38 may be attached to exhaust ports 34 by means of tubing 36 and detaching means (not illustrated) may be provided for releasing the spheres as the entire frame is withdrawn from embedded anchor 26. By free volume sphere is meant a hollow sphere substantially entirely filled with a gas so that the volume of the gas is changed when subjeoted to the hydrostatic pressure of the inflowing water. Spheres 38 may be constructed of plastic or a metallic material in order to withstand the great pressures extant in deep water. The purpose of free volume spheres 33 is to receive water exhausted from column 22 and through exhaust ports 34 without regard to the environmental pressure of the surrounding ocean bottom. Hydraulic amplification section 52 may be secured to the bottom of column 22 by internal threads 54- or like means. Medially positioned in section 52 is rotatable valve 42 having a medial aperture 66 corresponding in width to the internal diameter of conduit 62. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 valve 42 may be driven by motor 72 powered by battery 7@.

As the valve is rotated so that aperture 66 is in its vertical position parallel and in registry with conduit 62, the bottom of the column is opened so that a small volume of liquid in the column is permitted to flow out of exhaust ports 34 through lines 36 and into free volume sphere 38. By rota-ting the valve to the closed horizontal position, illustrated in FIG. 4, this water how is interrupted under a pressure determined by the height of the liquid column above valve 42. This stopping imparts an hydraulic impact to hammer section 52 and driving head dilwhich is in turn transmitted by driving head extension 68 to anchor 26. Also, a resonance of impact in column 22 is developed sequentially of the impact much in the manner of a quivering spear. This resonance further drives the anchor.

Anchor 26 may be secured to driving head extension 63 by means of shear pin 84. Anchor 26 of the expansion type has a pointed tip 74 with side apertures so into which wedge-shaped fiukes 76 may be retracted. Both flukes are pivoted inwardly of anchor 26 so as to be extensible into the surrounding ocean bottom when the anchor embedding apparatus is withdrawn from the anchor and returned to the ship. Manifestly, judicious timing of the opening and closing of valve &2 may provide a resonance in series which enables an extraordinary penetration of the anchor into the ocean bottom. Valve 42 instead of being rotatable transversely of the column may be reciprocable transversely thereof and may be empowered by electric means connected to the surface craft or various other mechanisms. The frame legs 3t) may include a switching mechanism (not illustrated) connected to the valve driving mechanism so that the valve is begun to be rotated as legs 36 touch the ocean bottom.

In the shallow water modification of FIG. 3 a mooring placement vessel is shown as having a deck side pump 9%, hydraulic supply line 96 leading to column 29 and anchor line 50 leading directly from the anchor to the ship. In this modification a buoy 190 of doughnut shape may be employed to steady the column 25} which may extend above the surface of the water. It is estimated that this modification of invention may be utilized at depths up to 200 feet. In both this and the FIG. 7 shallow water modification free volume spheres are not required, exhaust ports 34 discharging the pumped water directly adjaccnt the hammer section 52. Accumulator devices (not illustrated) may be placed on both sides of the pumps. It is contemplated that a control system (not illustrated) will start motor 72, initiating valving as legs 30 touch the ocean bottom. As hammer section 52 is driven to stop switch 104, anchor 26 being sufficiently embedded to withstand a pull in the range 25 to 150 tons, motor 72 may cut off valve 42 in closed position. Then, the entire frame may be returned to the surface while paying out anchor line 59 from reel 166. In addition to control switch 106, a frangible snubber 163 may be employed to hold a portion of anchor line 50 until the weight of anchor 26 pulling beyond the desired depth of penetration in the ocean bottom breaks snubber 108 in turn cutting off motor 72. It is essential, of course, that motor 72 develop sufiicient torque that there is a positive opening and closing of valve 42 to overcome the tremendous force of water jetting through conduit 62. As the frame is withdrawn from the ocean bottom shear pin 84 is broken leaving anchor 25 in place while an internal cable (illustrated in broken line in FIG. 2), attached to driving head extension 63 may be employed to distend anchor flukes 76.

ltlanifestly, numerous configurations of frame and column or driving members may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of invention which consists fundamentally in a method for harnessing hydraulic forces to embed an anchor.

I claim:

1. A method for embedding a marine anchor comprising:

(a) Suspending said anchor Within a body of water and above a surface in which it is to be embedded;

(b) Flowing water from said body of water through a column confined from said body of water and upon said anchor, into a confined free volume area of lesser pressure than the pressure of liquid in said column and of lesser pressure than the surrounding body of water;

(0) Abruptly stopping said flowing so as to impart an hydraulic impact of said flowing water upon said anchor; and

(d) Guiding said anchor into said surface.

2. Method as in claim 1, including stopping of said flowing at such intervals as to permit impact of said flowing liquid column, as well as resonance of impact of said flowing liquid column, upon said anchor to embed said anchor in said surface.

3. A marine anchor embedding apparatus including:

(a) A suspended frame with anchor and anchor line snubbed thereto;

(5;) An open top column filled with liquid and having a lower exhaust port supported in said frame and above said anchor said column being confined from said surrounding body of water;

(c) A driving head reciprocably supported in said frame intermediate said column and said anchor;

(r!) A confined free volume sphere of lesser hydrostatic pressure than the pressure of liquid in said column and the surrounding body of water and connected to said lower exhaust port;

(0) Valve means extending transversely of said col umn intermediate said open top and said exhaust port;

(f) Valve actuating means supported upon said column and connected to said valve; and

(3) Means for releasing said column and said driving head from said anchor.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3, said anchor having an inwardly folded fluke, together with means for extending said fiulte, as said driving head is withdrawn from said anchor.

5. A marine anchor embedding apparatus including:

(a) A suspended frame including a base with legs depending therefrom and upright track portion supported on said base, an anchor supported beneath said base and snubbed thereto;

(b) An open top liquid filled column with a bottom exhaust port supported in said upright track portion of said frame;

(0) A driving head reciprocably supported intermediate the bottom of said column and said anchor;

(d) A free volumn sphere connected to said exhaust port, said free volume sphere being confined from the surrounding ocean environment and of lesser hydrostatic pressure than the liquid in said open top column;

(e) Valve means extending transversely of said column intermediate said open top and said exhaust port;

(f) Valve actuating means connected to said valve;

(g) Means for releasing said column and said driving head from said anchor; and

(it) Means interconnecting said suspended frame and a surface vessel.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5, said bottom of said column further comprising a hammer section enclosing said valve and exhaust port and complementally engaging said upright track portion.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6, said upright portion including stop switch means engageable with said hammer section and operatively connected to said valve actuating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 699,273 Wolski May 6, 1963 2,583,965 Page Jan. 29, 1952 3,054,123 Moellcr Sept. 18, i962 

1. A METHOD FOR EMBEDDING A MARINE ANCHOR COMPRISING: (A) SUSPENDING SAID ANCHOR WITHIN A BODY OF WATER AND ABOVE A SURFACE IN WHICH IT IS TO BE EMBEDDED; (B) FLOWING WATER FROM SAID BODY OF WATER THROUGH A COLUMN CONFINED FROM SAID BODY OF WATER AND UPON SAID ANCHOR, INTO A CONFINED FREE VOLUME AREA OF LESSER PRESSURE THAN THE PRESSURE OF LIQUID IN SAID COLUMN AND OF LESSER PRESSURE THAN THE SURROUNDING BODY OF WATER; (C) ABRUPTLY STOPPING SAID FLOWING SO AS TO IMPART AN HYDRAULIC IMPACT OF SAID FLOWING WATER UPON SAID ANCHOR; AND (D) GUIDING SAID ANCHOR INTO SAID SURFACE. 